Product description
The medieval spinning whorl is modelled after a Viking-era find from Birka, Sweden. Conical spinning whorls crafted from clay were commonly used during the Viking Age, though round-shaped whorls were also present.The medieval spinning whorl measures approximately 4 x 2.5 cm and has a conical hole with a diameter of about 1 to 1.5 cm. Early examples of spinning whorls date back to around 6000 BC, with spinning carried out by hand spindle since the Neolithic. It was not until the High Middle Ages, around the 13th century, that the first primitive hand spinning wheels appeared.
There are many differences between modern hand spindle spinning and the medieval method. Unlike modern spindles, where the spindle and whorl are typically fixed together, medieval spindles had a loose connection. Spinning whorls were mostly constructed from clay, bone, antler, and sometimes soapstone. The whorl was simply placed onto the conical spindle, permitting the spinner to adjust the weight by switching whorls for different amounts of yarn or even removing it entirely whilst the spindle was full.
